Garmin Automotive Units reviews

Any LMT model will have lifetime maps and traffic.

The following link compares your 3 models which maybe better than attempting to answer your specific questions because we may not be sure what you consider a large screen for example:

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/catalog/product/compareResul...

AFAIK none of these models have a dash camera. The NuviCam does however.

They all have bluetooth support.

Not sure about the dash cam for any of them, but there specs are almost identical to each other. The LMT does specify lifetime maps and traffic. They all do Bluetooth. The main difference between those three is the screen size.

50 - 5" screen, 60 - 6" screen, 70 - 7" screen

The Garmin DriveAssist™ 50LMT has the DashCam with 5" screen and has Bluetooth.

Currently, the 50LMT is the only one listed in the DriveAssist line.

A short video but does outline some features that you can investage .
http://explore.garmin.com/en-US/drive/

As I see it, the problem with a nuvi with built in dash cam is that it has to have a placement where the camera lens on the back of the body of the device can get a good view out of the windshield. So the larger the screen, the more potential there is that the device will take up too much windshield real estate and possibly restrict the drivers view. The nuvicam has a 6.1" screen, the newer DriveAssist 50 has a 5.0" screen.

It seems to me the optimal placement for a dash cam would be in the center of the windshield, probably up near the rear view mirror. I think for large screen GPS devices, Garmin should come out with an option for a separate (probably wireless) dash cam that can use the nuvi display wherever it is mounted. So far, such a device doesn't exist AFAIK.

Note that I do not use a Dash cam and do not have any first hand experience with them, so this is just my uninformed non-expert opinion.

When I read your review of dash cams I realized something I did not think of. I never put my Garmin on the dash. I always keep it in the middle on the console so I can see it. My husband never looks at it so there is no reason for putting it on the dash where it is inconvenient for me to use. Because of your comments I realize I don't need a dash cam so I am taking that option off the wish list.
Thanks so much for your help.

Another thing I need to look at is the Europe Maps. I purchased an SD card and I am assuming it will work in any of these.

Another thing I just thought of, the built in space. I am having to have my map on the 2450 on the SD card because of space. I need to look at how much space the unit has.

Because of the alandb post I realize I don't need the dash cam so all of these look good. I do like the 7". I just need to research the built in space. There is a post here for that so I will look to see if these units are on it.
Thanks. Mary

I compared the Drive 6" with the DriveSmart 7" and the
DriveSmart has blue tooth. It looks like I am looking at the DriveSmart units.
It just comes down to my husband and $money. I also need to look at the internal space each unit has available for future maps and stuff.

Thanks for your help, Mary

I posted on the Garmin Internal Memory Sizes to see if anyone knows the size of the DriveSmart units internal and usable space. Hopefully someone will know.

I have tried a Nuvicam. Mounted on a beanbag (like my 3597) it "sees" too much of the car hood for the lane and proximity alerts to be reliable. Any windscreen mount where it is easily seen takes up too much area. On the passenger side my wife ignores it, jealous of Jill or is it Samantha?

I think I have talked myself out of the camera one as I like having the GPS in my lap or on the console. It is so convenient there for me.

AFAIK, there has never been a Garmin Nuvi/DriveSmart with more than 8GB of internal storage, at least on units with only NA or EU maps installed. I'd be very surprised if the DriveSmart unit your looking at would come with more than 8GB and certainly no less than that.

a DriveSmart 60LMT. Got it through Amazon Outlet. Garmin listed it at $269.99, Outlet price was $204.00. As far as I can tell, it is new, but even Refurbished comes with a full factory warranty. I'll post a review when I get it and road test it.

I am sure your DriveSmart 60 will be new and not refurbished. These units first hit store shelves in mid to late January, so I don't think there would be any refurbs on the market yet. Give it another 6 or 8 months and some refurbs may start showing up.

Looking forward to the review. Thanks

My first Garmin was a Nuvi 350 with a 3.5" screen
Next came a Nuvi 855 with a 4.3" screen
Followed by a 3790 with a 4.3' screen
I now have a 2797 with a 7" screen and I LOVE the size.
Great for us old farts to see.

Do you know what the difference is in the DriveSmart and the 2797 units?

One thing I might want is America and Europe maps on the same unit with lifetime updates if there is a 7" unit with both installed. If not I do have the Europe Maps on the SD card I bought so I could us that but it does not have any updates.

I do know I want the 7". I am an old fart like you

I have already started talking up a new unit to my husband and so far no way, but that is the way all things start that I don't need but want. It almost always end with an OK get what you want if I talk about it nicely long enough.